Research interest
I'm interested in the molecular cell biology of Drosophila antennal cells, especially those found in the third segment (funiculus) which are responsible for insect olfaction.
Two major categories of cells reside there: olfactory sensory neurons, responsible for detecting odorants and relaying the information to the antennal lobe in the brain, and the largely unexplored majority, the supporting cells, which are thought to have an important, conserved function in various aspects of odor detection.
Methods & Goals
I perform single-nucleus RNA sequencing of antennal cells, immunohistochemistry and live calcium imaging to better understand - in an unbiased manner - which genes are involved and play a role in signal transduction, which features differentiate various types of sensory neurons and morphological types of sensors (sensilla), and how supporting cells influence odor responsiveness. |
